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en-usCopyright 2015 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
I'm going to share with you a deep secret about the Massively staff: Pretty much all of us hate Larry. Oh, as a person he's likable enough, and he showers regularly, so no complaints there. He even saved the President's dog once and earned the Merit of Patriotic Pooches. Women swoon at his feet, and men occasionally throw their billfolds at him just so that he can afford to live the luxurious lifestyle that he obviously deserves.

No, we hate him for a different reason entirely. You see, Larry gets the privilege and honor of being the Star Wars: The Old Republic reporter in these here parts, which has earned him no end of envy from the rest of us. Whenever we're all talking about TOR, Shawn will come in the room and tell all of us to cut it out -- except Larry. "Larry, it's your job to talk about The Old Republic. Keep on truckin', pal! You're the best!"

And then Larry sticks his tongue out at us and makes pretend lightsaber noises for an hour or so while we grit our teeth.

But then I remembered: I have a top ten column! In which I can talk about anything! And if that subject so happened to be TOR, then for one glorious week I could actually talk about BioWare's upcoming MMO without fear of reprisal from upper management! So today is all about my predictions for The Old Republic. Nine of them will come true; one will not. Have fun guessing which one!

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biowarebounty-hunterchewiechuck-norriscompanionscraftingea-biowarefeaturedflashpointforce-usergeorge-lucasgreedohan-shot-firsthan-soloimperial-agentjabba-the-huttjawajawa-jedijedikashyyyklarrylarry-everettlightsaberlukemerit-of-patriotic-poochesrancor-pitreturn-of-the-jedisarlaccsmugglerstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictime-traveltortrooperunionswedge-antilleswookieeworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0400319|19903360http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-on-designing-for-loners/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-on-designing-for-loners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-on-designing-for-loners/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Nothing stirs up a good MMO debate like the age-old question of whether or not the genre should cater to solo players. BioWare'sDamion Schubert, lead systems designer on the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic, recently added a bit of fuel to that particular fire during a presentation at last week's GDC in San Francisco.

Schubert's talk focused on loners in the massively multiplayer space, and while it's no surprise to anyone that TOR is being built with the solo player in mind, it may come as a bit of a revelation that BioWare isn't aiming to "dumb down" the MMORPG as some fans have suggested.

On the contrary, Schubert states that MMOs feature "hardcore stuff. This is hardcore gameplay, and we have to figure out how to get the solo player in a position where they want to take part in this, where they feel comfortable with the social circles, where they feel like they can be contributors."

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biowaredamion-schubertdesignea-biowareexclusivefeaturedgame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011han-solohardcorelonerlonerspanelsci-fisocialsocial-designsolostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-jef-reahardthe-old-republicyoure-doing-it-wrongMon, 07 Mar 2011 13:00:00 -0500319|19869061http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/earthrise-teases-new-beta-screenshot/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/earthrise-teases-new-beta-screenshot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/earthrise-teases-new-beta-screenshot/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
"Well, short help's better than no help at all Chewie," said everyone's favorite sci-fi smuggler as an Ewok hugged his leg prior to the climactic ground battle in 1983's Return of the Jedi. Similarly, scattered tidbits of Earthrise information are better than no Earthrise information, and so we present to you the latest beta screenshot from Masthead Studio's forthcoming sandbox MMORPG.

While we'd prefer beta invites for everyone and a release date, this random screenshot will simply have to do for now. As you can see, it features a player character checking out some sort of power gizmo thing-a-ma-doodle. Upon closer inspection, you'll also note that although they blacked out the player names in the chat box, they didn't black out the discussion which reads, in part, "this reminds me so much of SWG." Check out the shot above or in our Earthrise gallery below.

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betaearthrisegalleryhan-solomastheadmasthead-studiosscreenshotsstar-wars-galaxiesswgteaseTue, 28 Sep 2010 20:00:00 -0400319|19651766http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/swtor-announces-han-solos-future-home-as-a-playable-planet/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/swtor-announces-han-solos-future-home-as-a-playable-planet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/swtor-announces-han-solos-future-home-as-a-playable-planet/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsCorellia, the primary planet of the Five Brothers in the Corellian system, has just been announced as the next planet for you to explore in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Who doesn't know Han Solo? This famous smuggler will be born on this pivotal planet in some 3,500 years after the in events in SWTOR, but that does not stop this luscious world from being an important spot in The Old Republic.

Corellia is an apex of trade, so its political influence is vast and powerful. Although the citizens adore their independence, the planetary loyalty has never been in question. So, when Corellia's communications were suddenly cut off from the rest of the Republic, the whole galaxy was in shock. The few holo-vids which have been extracted from the planet show extensive terrorist acts and destruction across the planet. We can only assume this is an attack from the Sith Empire. Wasn't the Treaty supposed to protect this planet from such issues?

Stay tuned here at Massively for more updates on this senseless violence.

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BioWarebreakingcorelliaeaea-biowarehan-soloindependentLucasArtsrepublicsmugglersmugglerssmugglingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 10 Sep 2010 19:30:00 -0400319|19629452http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Hey, kids, the name's Han Solo. I've been asked to step in here because I know a thing or two about smuggling. I know many of you are lookin' to jump into this line of work, and I'm going to tell you right now: it ain't gonna be easy. You gotta live by your guts, kids. You hav'ta be smooth, and you can't let crazy green Rodians get under your skin. In fact, if a Rodian does come lookin' for you, I suggest you shoot him first. It'll save you some trouble in the long run, but don't forget to pay for the mess.

Maybe I should start with some of the greatest smugglers out there. That should help detour you from the insanity of this profession. Although none of 'em is as good as I am, Lando Calrissian, Dash Rendar, and even an old smuggler named Hylo Visz made their marks on history. Their lives were wrought with risky maneuvers, near-misses, and some damned good luck. So I guess if you think you've got what it takes, keep reading -- I'll meet you after the break.

[Thank you to Lois van Baarle for letting us use her artwork for the main banner. You can see more of her work at Loish.net.]

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bespinBioWareboba-fettChewbaccacloud-citydash-rendarEAhan-solohothHydian-wayhylo-viszlando-calrissianlorelucas-artsLucasArtsmandaloriannerf-herderoutriderrole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingsabaccsmugglesmuggledsmugglersmugglerssmugglers-rulesmugglingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorswtor-lore-guideMon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0400319|19540331http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-my-expediti/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-my-expediti/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-my-expediti/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
After cracking open the history textbooks on one of the most famous (and infamous) MMOs of the past decade and talking to twogroups of crack veterans, it was finally time for the Game Archaeologist to strap on his lightwhip, kick over the nearest Astromech droid, and dive headfirst into Star Wars Galaxies.

Although I've been interested in Star Wars Galaxies since 2003, its apparent complexity scared me off back in the beginning (when I made the choice to scoot over to the equally complex Anarchy Online during that time). Later on, I felt as if it was too late to jump on the SWG bandwagon, feeling as if the entire Galaxies playerbase was finishing up their Master's degrees and I'd be entering the equivalent of preschool. Fortunately, this article series gave me an excellent excuse to stop coming up with excuses and simply go for it -- and with the counsel of several friends and Massively writers who know the SWG ropes, I found my footing just fine.

Click on the first picture of the gallery to join me on my journey to the stars -- and don't forget to read my impressions under each screenshot!

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anarchy-onlineastromechboba-fettfeaturedhan-soloi-bounty-hunt-for-jabba-hutt-to-finance-my-vettejump-to-lightspeedlandos-co-pilotlightwhipmountpreschoolsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgtatooinethe-game-archaeologisttrialwookieeTue, 22 Jun 2010 12:00:00 -0400319|19524755http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/18/e3-2010-hands-on-with-the-old-republics-smuggler-class/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/18/e3-2010-hands-on-with-the-old-republics-smuggler-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/18/e3-2010-hands-on-with-the-old-republics-smuggler-class/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
What's the oldest profession? If you answered smuggling, then you're wrong, but you're totally on track for what we're going to cover in today's hands-on!

At this year's E3, I had the pleasure of smuggling for fun and profit as I found my ship stolen out from underneath me in Star Wars: The Old Republic. I spent a decent amount of time learning about the game's world, the game's combat and quest system, and how cover works for the smuggler. I also got to witness a bit of multiplayer combat, to get a feel for how the game works in a party.

Was it revolutionary? Was it solid? Was it a piece of junk that could do the Kessel Run in an odd measure of distance instead of time? Follow after the break for all of this and more!

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biowarecovere3-2010featuredhan-solokessel-runmass-effectplaythroughsmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-hands-ontwilekFri, 18 Jun 2010 17:00:00 -0400319|19520639http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
I think we can put to bed the rumor that Star Wars Galaxies is dead on its feet, considering the avalanche of emails sent my way asking to be interviewed. Last week's history retrospective sparked a desire in many players to share their experiences and personal epics, and it was not uncommon to read emails longer than this column from players excited to reminisce. There's a lot of love for SWG, both out among MMO players and here in the Massively office (we have at least three confirmed SWG addicts on the team).

When I began this series, I thought that it would be dominated by NGE and nothing else, yet the responses I've read tend to focus on the positives of the title instead of that one ugly month. It might not have been the Star Wars experience everyone wanted, but if one looks hard enough, apparently there's something for everyone in SWG. Sam Schneider encapsulated many opinions perfectly with this: "Despite its problems, and what I believe people mostly remember it for (and I certainly do), the game did allow you do truly create your own Star Wars experience. You weren't Han Solo, you weren't Luke Skywalker, you weren't Leia -- you were YOU."

Unfortunately, I could only interview a small fraction of the people who wrote in, so I randomly chose a handful of players to represent the (mostly) pre-NGE crowd for this week, and a handful of (mostly) post-NGE gamers for next week's column. This week we're talking with Adam "Vayde" Mostel, Jaume "Tsotha Lanti" Sabater, Kate "Syena Runningrider" and Paris "Iweos" Wright.

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cueverquestfeaturedhan-soloi-could-use-a-good-kissinterviewjedijump-to-lightspeednew-game-enhancementsngeretrospectiveroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstormtrooperswgthe-game-archaeologisttwilekTue, 08 Jun 2010 12:30:00 -0400319|19506085http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
The revealing of Star Wars: The Old Republic'sfinal two classes has incited much discussion amongst the community and inside my own brain. On one hand, lots of people are happy to have more Sith and Jedi classes to choose from. However, on the other hand, some people are disappointed in the lack of creative and unexpected class options.

In all reality, BioWare probably made the right choice, but let's look at the view of both sides for the sake of argument and to have a little fun.

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biowareboba-fettbounty-hunterconsulareaelectronic-artsfeaturedhan-soloinquistorjedi-consularknights-of-the-old-republickotorlucasartsopinionsith-inquisitorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-digital-continuumthe-old-republicMon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0500319|19258392http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-star-wars-the-old-republic-demonstration/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-star-wars-the-old-republic-demonstration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-star-wars-the-old-republic-demonstration/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsThe trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic blew nerds around the world away, and has managed to build some of the greatest hype possible for an MMO in just a few short days. The question has been asked whether or not a trailer which contains absolutely no gameplay footage should be producing that sort of hype, but that trailer wasn't all that we saw of the upcoming MMORPG at E3. A panel dedicated to The Old Republic had much more to say.

The panel opened up with the stage being set: The Old Republic begins 3,000 years before the rise of Darth Vader, 300 years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, which would give BioWare an excellent opportunity to define and expand upon key events of Star Wars "pre-history."

The entire presentation laid a significant emphasis on story and story elements. Right from the beginning, the developers lay out it: RPGs have four primary elements. Exploration, combat, progression, and story. The story element is the one most overlooked in MMOs, and The Old Republic intends to address that head on. They intend to embrace story right alongside the other RPG elements. It will be a major player, and not something just used to justify the other elements.

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boba-fettbounty-huntercoruscantcraftinge3e3-2009han-solohuttamandalorian-huntmandaloriansord-mantellpvpsmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republicThu, 04 Jun 2009 21:40:00 -0400319|19058272http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/behind-the-scenes-video-peeks-at-lego-universe/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/behind-the-scenes-video-peeks-at-lego-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/behind-the-scenes-video-peeks-at-lego-universe/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Here's something interesting. It's a LEGO Universe behind the scenes look video (mouthful!) in which we get to see some sneak peek stuff concerning the upcoming title that lets players build their own world, which is likely full of genitals. Oh, we also get to gawk at a really cool building full of more LEGO than half of America sees in a few years. We really aren't sure how anyone at NetDevil or LEGO gets anything done with all those blocks just begging to be put together. We'd be halfway done creating our LEGO-dition of Han Solo frozen in Carbonite after our first day or two.

It didn't help our jaw-to-floor ratio when the video also informed that within LEGO Universe, we can expect to experience pirates, ninjas and robots in LEGO form. It's a nerd trifecta +1! We're not sure whether we want this MMO to succeed or fail. Success means the loss of our entire lives for an undisclosed amount of time and failure -- something we never really wish upon a developer -- means keeping our families, friends and jobs. You can check out the video for yourself below below the cut.